U.S. patent application number 15/914034 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-27 for vehicular washer device.
The applicant listed for this patent is HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Taisuke Goto, Takuro Hashimoto, Motoki Minami, Takeshi Sasaki.
Application Number | 20180272995 15/914034 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63581039 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180272995 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sasaki; Takeshi ; et
al. |
September 27, 2018 |
VEHICULAR WASHER DEVICE
Abstract
A distribution apparatus installed in a washer liquid passage
has an intake passage which reciprocates in a circumferential
direction of a circle about a pivot shaft in a linked manner with a
wiper arm and to which a washer liquid is supplied, a first
ejection passage disposed further outside in a radial direction of
the circle than the intake passage and disposed at a position
offset toward one side in the circumferential direction with
respect to the intake passage, and a second ejection passage
disposed further outside in the radial direction of the circle than
the intake passage and disposed at a position offset toward the
other side in the circumferential direction with respect to the
intake passage. A washer nozzle is connected to at least one of the
first ejection passage and the second ejection passage.
Inventors: |
Sasaki; Takeshi; (Wako-shi,
JP) ; Minami; Motoki; (Wako-shi, JP) ;
Hashimoto; Takuro; (Wako-shi, JP) ; Goto;
Taisuke; (Wako-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
63581039 |
Appl. No.: |
15/914034 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 1/005 20130101;
B60S 1/522 20130101; B08B 3/04 20130101; B60S 1/3415 20130101; B60S
1/3488 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60S 1/52 20060101
B60S001/52; B60S 1/34 20060101 B60S001/34; B08B 1/00 20060101
B08B001/00; B08B 3/04 20060101 B08B003/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 21, 2017 |
JP |
2017-054990 |
Claims
1. A vehicular washer device comprising: a wiper arm that
reciprocates in a circumferential direction of a circle about a
pivot shaft installed in a vehicle; a wiper blade held at the wiper
arm and that wipes a target surface to be wiped of the vehicle; a
washer nozzle installed on at least one of the wiper arm and the
wiper blade and that injects a washer liquid toward the target
surface to be wiped; a washer liquid passage that brings a supply
part of the washer liquid and the washer nozzle in communication
with each other; and a distribution apparatus installed on a
portion of the washer liquid passage and that reciprocates in the
circumferential direction of the circle in a linked manner with the
wiper arm, wherein the distribution apparatus has: an intake
passage connected to the supply part of the washer liquid; a first
ejection passage disposed further outside in a radial direction of
the circle than the intake passage and disposed at a position
offset toward a first side in the circumferential direction with
respect to the intake passage; and a second ejection passage
disposed further outside in the radial direction of the circle than
the intake passage and disposed at a position offset with respect
to a second side in the circumferential direction with respect to
the intake passage, and the washer nozzle is connected to at least
one of the first ejection passage and the second ejection
passage.
2. The vehicular washer device according to claim 1, wherein
different washer nozzles are connected to the first ejection
passage and the second ejection passage, respectively.
3. The vehicular washer device according to claim 2, wherein the
washer nozzle connected to the first ejection passage is configured
such that an injecting direction thereof is directed toward the
second side in the circumferential direction of the circle, and the
washer nozzle connected to the second ejection passage is
configured such that an injecting direction thereof is directed
toward the first side in the circumferential direction of the
circle.
4. The vehicular washer device according to claim 2, wherein the
distribution apparatus has a first outflow chamber and a second
outflow chamber partitioned by a diaphragm and that are in
communication with the first ejection passage and the second
ejection passage, respectively, a first outflow port to which one
of the washer nozzles is connected is formed in the first outflow
chamber, and a second outflow port to which the other washer nozzle
is connected is formed in the second outflow chamber, and the
diaphragm alternatively closes the first outflow port and the
second outflow port according to a deform displacement of the
diaphragm.
5. The vehicular washer device according to claim 3, wherein the
distribution apparatus has a first outflow chamber and a second
outflow chamber partitioned by a diaphragm and that are in
communication with the first ejection passage and the second
ejection passage, respectively, a first outflow port to which one
of the washer nozzles is connected is formed in the first outflow
chamber, and a second outflow port to which the other washer nozzle
is connected is formed in the second outflow chamber, and the
diaphragm alternatively closes the first outflow port and the
second outflow port according to a deform displacement of the
diaphragm.
6. The vehicular washer device according to claim 1, wherein an
inner wall of at least one of a connecting region from the intake
passage to the first ejection passage and a connecting region from
the intake passage to the second ejection passage is configured by
a curved surface protruding toward a central side of a passage of
the connecting region.
7. The vehicular washer device according to claim 1, wherein the
distribution apparatus comprises a partition wall configured to
partition the first ejection passage and the second ejection
passage, and the partition wall is disposed on an extension line of
the intake passage.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No.
2017-054990, filed Mar. 21, 2017, the content of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicular washer device
configured to inject a washer liquid to a target surface to be
wiped of a vehicle.
Description of Related Art
[0003] A vehicular washer device having a function of switching an
injecting direction of a washer liquid according to a pivoting
direction of a wiper arm is proposed (for example, see Japanese
Utility Model Publication No. H05-25344).
[0004] In the vehicular washer device disclosed in Japanese Utility
Model Publication No. H05-25344, a wiper arm is pivotably supported
on a pivot shaft of a vehicle, and a first washer nozzle configured
to inject a washer liquid while being pivotal moved in one
direction and a second washer nozzle configured to inject the
washer liquid while being pivotal moved in the other direction are
installed on the wiper arm. Then, a flow path switching mechanism
configured to switch a supply of the washer liquid with respect to
the first washer nozzle and the second washer nozzle in accordance
with a pivoting direction of the wiper arm is installed on a
circumferential region of the pivot shaft.
[0005] In the case of the vehicular washer device, when the wiper
arm is pivoted in one direction, the washer liquid is injected from
the first washer nozzle toward a target surface to be wiped, and
when the wiper arm is pivoted in the other direction, the washer
liquid is injected from the second washer nozzle toward the target
surface to be wiped.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] However, in the vehicular washer device of the related art,
since the passage of the washer nozzle is switched in accordance
with a pivoting direction of the wiper arm by the flow path
switching mechanism installed on the circumferential region of the
pivot shaft, a seal member in sliding contact with a seal surface
according to pivotal movement of the wiper arm needs to be
installed in the flow path switching mechanism. For this reason,
deterioration may occur in the seal member according to the passage
of time, and replacement of the seal member may be forced.
[0007] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a vehicular
washer device capable of realizing injection control of a washer
liquid according to an operating direction of a wiper arm while
achieving improvement of durability of parts.
[0008] A vehicular washer device according to the present invention
employs the following configurations.
[0009] (1) A vehicular washer device according to an aspect of the
present invention includes a wiper arm that reciprocates in a
circumferential direction of a circle about a pivot shaft installed
in a vehicle; a wiper blade held at the wiper arm and that wipes a
target surface to be wiped of the vehicle; a washer nozzle
installed on at least one of the wiper arm and the wiper blade and
that injects a washer liquid toward the target surface to be wiped;
a washer liquid passage that brings a supply part of the washer
liquid and the washer nozzle in communication with each other; and
a distribution apparatus installed on a portion of the washer
liquid passage and that reciprocates in the circumferential
direction of the circle in a linked manner with the wiper arm,
wherein the distribution apparatus has: an intake passage connected
to the supply part of the washer liquid; a first ejection passage
disposed further outside in a radial direction of the circle than
the intake passage and disposed at a position offset toward a first
side in the circumferential direction with respect to the intake
passage; and a second ejection passage disposed further outside in
the radial direction of the circle than the intake passage and
disposed at a position offset with respect to a second side in the
circumferential direction with respect to the intake passage, and
the washer nozzle is connected to at least one of the first
ejection passage and the second ejection passage.
[0010] According to the aspect of (1), when the washer liquid is
taken into the intake passage of the distribution apparatus from
the supply part and the wiper arm is pivoted to the first side in
the circumferential direction in this state, the washer liquid is
mainly taken into the second ejection passage in the distribution
apparatus by an inertial force being applied to the washer liquid.
Here, when the washer nozzle is connected to the second ejection
passage, the washer liquid is injected toward the target surface to
be wiped through the washer nozzle. Meanwhile, when the washer
liquid is taken into the intake passage of the distribution
apparatus from the supply unit and the wiper arm is pivoted to the
second side in the circumferential direction in this state, the
washer liquid is mainly taken into the first ejection passage side
by the inertial force being applied to the washer liquid. Here,
when the washer nozzle is connected to the first ejection passage,
the washer liquid is injected toward the target surface to be wiped
through the washer nozzle. Accordingly, when the vehicular washer
device is employed, a large amount of the washer liquid can
selectively flow through any one of the first ejection passage and
the second ejection passage due to the inertial force being applied
to the washer liquid in the distribution apparatus when the wiper
arm is pivoted. Further, when the washer nozzle is connected to
only one of the first ejection passage and the second ejection
passage, the washer liquid is injected toward the target surface to
be wiped only when the wiper arm is pivoted in one direction.
[0011] (2) In the aspect of (1), different washer nozzles may be
connected to the first ejection passage and the second ejection
passage, respectively.
[0012] According to the aspect of (2), the washer nozzle configured
to inject a large amount of the washer liquid can be switched by
the distribution apparatus according to the pivoting direction of
the wiper arm.
[0013] (3) In the aspect of (2), wherein the washer nozzle
connected to the first ejection passage may be configured such that
an injecting direction thereof is directed toward the second side
in the circumferential direction of the circle, and the washer
nozzle connected to the second ejection passage may be configured
such that an injecting direction thereof is directed toward the
first side in the circumferential direction of the circle.
[0014] According to the aspect of (3), a large amount of the washer
liquid can be injected in an advancing direction of the wiper arm
from the washer nozzle. Accordingly, when the configuration is
employed, since the target surface to be wiped can be wiped by the
wiper blade immediately after the washer liquid is injected, an
amount of the washer liquid remaining after the wiping can be
minimized.
[0015] (4) In the aspect of (2) or (3), the distribution apparatus
may have a first outflow chamber and a second outflow chamber
partitioned by a diaphragm and that are in communication with the
first ejection passage and the second ejection passage,
respectively, a first outflow port to which one of the washer
nozzles is connected may be formed in the first outflow chamber,
and a second outflow port to which the other washer nozzle is
connected may be formed in the second outflow chamber, and the
diaphragm may alternatively close the first outflow port and the
second outflow port according to a deform displacement of the
diaphragm.
[0016] According to the aspect of (4), for example, when a large
amount of the washer liquid is taken into the first outflow chamber
according to an operation of the wiper arm, the diaphragm is
pressed by the washer liquid to be deformed and displaced, and the
diaphragm closes the second outflow port on the side of the second
outflow chamber. In addition, on the other hand, when a large
amount of the washer liquid is taken into the second outflow
chamber, the diaphragm is pressed by the washer liquid to be
deformed and displaced, the diaphragm closes the first outflow port
on the side of the first outflow chamber. Accordingly, when the
configuration is employed, an outflow of the washer liquid from a
washer nozzle opposite a side at which a large amount of the washer
liquid is injected can be suppressed.
[0017] (5) In the aspect of any one of (1) to (4), an inner wall of
at least one of a connecting region from the intake passage to the
first ejection passage and a connecting region from the intake
passage to the second ejection passage may be configured by a
curved surface protruding toward a central side of a passage of the
connecting region.
[0018] According to the aspect of (5), when the washer liquid is
taken to the vicinity of the curved surface of the inner wall, the
washer liquid is drawn to the curved surface by the Coanda effect.
For this reason, the washer liquid can be efficiently taken into a
desired ejection passage in the distribution apparatus.
[0019] (6) In the aspect of any one of (1) to (5), the distribution
apparatus may include a partition wall configured to partition the
first ejection passage and the second ejection passage, and the
partition wall may be disposed on an extension line of the intake
passage.
[0020] According to the aspect of (6), the washer liquid directly
flowing through the intake passage abuts the partition wall to
change its flow direction. Here, when the wiper arm is pivoted in
any one direction, it is easy for the washer liquid to flow
unevenly to a side that receives an inertial force.
[0021] According to the aspects of the present invention, when the
wiper arm is pivoted, since a large amount of the washer liquid can
selectively flow to any one of the first ejection passage and the
second ejection passage due to an inertial force being applied to
the washer liquid in the distribution apparatus, injection control
of the washer liquid according to an operating direction of the
wiper arm can be realized without using a complex seal structure in
which a seal member comes into sliding contact with another member
according to an operation of the wiper arm. Accordingly, according
to the aspects of the present invention, injection control of
washer liquid in accordance with an operating direction of the
wiper arm can be realized while achieving improvement of durability
of parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a vehicular
washer device of an embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a front view of a portion of a wiper arm of the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the portion of the
wiper arm of the embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a partially cut front view of a distribution
apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 5A is a front view of the washer device of the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a
distribution apparatus of the washer device of the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 6A is a front view of the washer device of the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the
distribution apparatus of the washer device of the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 7A is a front view of the washer device of the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the
distribution apparatus of the washer device of the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 8A is a front view of the washer device of the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 8B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the
distribution apparatus of the washer device of the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a distribution
apparatus of another embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the
distribution apparatus of the other embodiment of the present
invention.
[0036] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the
distribution apparatus of the other embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a windshield glass 1
of a front side of a vehicle that employs a washer device 10 for a
vehicle according to the embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as
the "washer device 10").
[0039] Left and right wiper arms 11 of a wiper are disposed at left
and right separated positions of a lower edge of the windshield
glass 1. In FIG. 1, only the left wiper arm 11 of the vehicle is
shown. A base section of the wiper arm 11 is pivotably supported on
a pivot shaft 12 installed on a vehicle body member under the
windshield glass 1. A wiper blade 13 configured to wipe an outer
surface 1a (a target surface to be wiped) of the windshield glass 1
is held at a tip portion of each of the wiper arms 11. A biasing
mechanism configured to bias the wiper blade 13 toward the outer
surface 1a of the windshield glass 1 is installed in the wiper arm
11.
[0040] Further, the wiper arm 11 reciprocates about an axial center
12o of the pivot shaft 12 in a circumferential direction of a
circle C, as shown by a solid arrow in the drawing.
[0041] A first washer nozzle 14B (a washer nozzle) and a second
washer nozzle 14A (a washer nozzle) configured to inject a washer
liquid toward the outer surface 1a of the windshield glass 1 are
attached to the tip portion of the wiper arm 11. The first washer
nozzle 14B and the second washer nozzle 14A are connected to a pump
16 serving as a supply unit for the washer liquid through a washer
liquid passage 15. The washer liquid stored in a reservoir tank 17
is pumped to the washer liquid passage 15 by the pump 16.
[0042] FIG. 2 is a view showing a portion of the wiper arm 11 on
the side of the base section when seen in a front view, and FIG. 3
is an exploded perspective view of the portion of the wiper arm 11
on the side of the base section.
[0043] As shown in the drawings, a distribution apparatus 18 of the
washer liquid is installed in the wiper arm 11. The distribution
apparatus 18 is installed in the middle of the washer liquid
passage 15. In addition, the distribution apparatus 18 is displaced
integrally with the wiper arm 11 and linked to the wiper arm 11 to
reciprocate in the circumferential direction of the circle C (see
FIG. 1).
[0044] The distribution apparatus 18 includes a main body block 30
to which a main pipeline 15M of the washer liquid passage 15 on the
side of the pump 16 is connected, and a joint block 22 to which a
first branch pipeline 15A and a second branch pipeline 15B of the
washer liquid passage 15 on the side of the washer nozzles are
connected. The second washer nozzle 14A is connected to the first
branch pipeline 15A, and the first washer nozzle 14B is connected
to the second branch pipeline 15B.
[0045] Further, reference numeral 26 in FIG. 3 designates a cover
member configured to close a side portion of the main body block
30, and reference numeral 27 is a seal member configured to seal a
periphery of a passage section of a connecting section of the joint
block 22 to the main body block 30.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a partially cut front view of the distribution
apparatus 18 in which the cover member 26 is removed from the main
body block 30 and the joint block 22 is cut in a cross section.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 4, the main body block 30 has an intake
passage 19 having an upstream section connected to the main
pipeline 15M of the washer liquid passage 15, and a first ejection
passage 20 and a second ejection passage 21 branched from the
intake passage 19 in a bifurcated shape. The first ejection passage
20 is located outside in a radial direction R of the circle C about
the pivot shaft 12 and disposed at a position offset toward one
side (a first side) in the circumferential direction of the circle
C with respect to the intake passage 19 in a state in which the
distribution apparatus 18 is attached to the wiper arm 11. On the
other hand, the second ejection passage 21 is located outside in
the radial direction R of the circle C about the pivot shaft 12 and
disposed at a position offset toward the other side (a second side)
in the circumferential direction of the circle C with respect to
the intake passage 19 in a state in which the distribution
apparatus 18 is attached to the wiper arm 11.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, the intake passage 19 extends in the
radial direction R of the circle C in the main body block 30, and
the first ejection passage 20 and the second ejection passage 21
are branched to be gently curved in opposite directions from an end
portion of the intake passage 19. Specifically, an inner wall,
which is located at an outer side in the circumferential direction
of the circle C, of a connecting region E1, which is a region
between the intake passage 19 and the first ejection passage 20,
and an inner wall, which is located at an outer side in the
circumferential direction of the circle C, of a connecting region
E2, which is a region between the intake passage 19 and the second
ejection passage 21, are respectively constituted by curved
surfaces 35 that protrude toward passage axial centers o1 and o2
(passage centers) of the connecting regions E1 and E2.
[0049] In addition, the first ejection passage 20 and the second
ejection passage 21 of the distribution apparatus 18 are
partitioned by a partition wall 36 having a wedge-shaped tip
portion facing the intake passage 19. The tip portion of the
partition wall 36 is disposed on an extension line of a passage
axial center o3 of an intake passage. In addition, the tip portion
of the partition wall 36 is disposed at a position overlapping the
curved surface 35 of the connecting region E1 on the side of the
first ejection passage 20 and the curved surface 35 of the
connecting region E2 on the side of the second ejection passage 21
in the radial direction R of the circle C.
[0050] The joint block 22 has a first outflow chamber 32 and a
second outflow chamber 33 partitioned by a diaphragm 31. The first
outflow chamber 32 is disposed at one side (a first side) in the
circumferential direction of the circle C about the pivot shaft 12,
and the second outflow chamber 33 is disposed at the other side (a
second side) in the circumferential direction of the circle C about
the pivot shaft 12.
[0051] A first outflow port 23 to which the first branch pipeline
15A is connected is formed in the first outflow chamber 32, and a
second outflow port 24 to which the second branch pipeline 15B is
connected is formed in the second outflow chamber 33.
[0052] The first outflow port 23 protrudes toward the inside of the
first outflow chamber 32 to face one surface of the diaphragm 31,
and the second outflow port 24 protrudes toward the inside of the
second outflow chamber 33 to face the other surface of the
diaphragm 31. The diaphragm 31 closes the second outflow port 24
when a large amount of the washer liquid is taken into the first
outflow chamber 32 and the diaphragm 31 is displaced to be deformed
toward the second outflow chamber 33. In addition, the diaphragm 31
closes the first outflow port 23 when a large amount of the washer
liquid is taken into the second outflow chamber 33 and the
diaphragm 31 is displaced to be deformed toward the first outflow
chamber 32. The diaphragm 31 is configured to alternatively close
the first outflow port 23 and the second outflow port 24 according
to the deform displacement.
[0053] In addition, the second washer nozzle 14A connected to the
first branch pipeline 15A is configured such that an injecting
direction thereof faces the other side (the second side) in the
circumferential direction of the circle C about the pivot shaft 12.
Meanwhile, the first washer nozzle 14B connected to the second
branch pipeline 15B is configured such that an injecting direction
thereof faces the one side (the first side) in the circumferential
direction of the circle C about the pivot shaft 12.
[0054] Here, the washer liquid taken into the intake passage 19 of
the distribution apparatus 18 from the pump 16 receives an
influence of an inertial force corresponding to a pivoting
direction of the wiper arm 11 and is bent in a direction in which
an inertial force is applied to flow toward either the first
ejection passage 20 or the second ejection passage 21 when the
wiper arm 11 is pivoted. When the washer liquid is taken into the
first ejection passage 20, the washer liquid is injected onto the
windshield glass 1 from the first washer nozzle 14B via the first
outflow chamber 32 and the first outflow port 23. Meanwhile, when
the washer liquid is taken into the second ejection passage 21, the
washer liquid is injected onto the windshield glass 1 from the
second washer nozzle 14A via the second outflow chamber 33 and the
second outflow port 24.
[0055] FIGS. 5A to 8B show views showing an operating state of the
wiper arm 11 and a flow of washer liquid in the distribution
apparatus 18 at this time.
[0056] As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the wiper arm 11 is
pivoted from a lower end toward an upper end, an inertial force
acting downward in the drawing is applied to the washer liquid in
the intake passage 19, and the washer liquid is mainly taken into
the first ejection passage 20 side from the intake passage 19 and
injected from the first washer nozzle 14B via the first outflow
chamber 32 and the first outflow port 23.
[0057] As shown on FIGS. 6A and 6B, when the wiper arm 11 is
gradually decelerated and reverses its pivoting direction after the
wiper arm 11 is pivoted to the vicinity of the upper end, since the
inertial force applied to the washer liquid in the intake passage
19 is decreased or disappears, the washer liquid is substantially
evenly divided into the first ejection passage 20 and the second
ejection passage 21. Here, the washer liquid is injected from both
the first washer nozzle 14B and the second washer nozzle 14A little
by little, or the injection from both of the washer nozzles is
suppressed without reaching any one of the washer nozzles.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the wiper arm 11 is
pivoted from the upper end toward the lower end, the inertial force
acting upward in the drawing is applied to the washer liquid in the
intake passage 19, and the washer liquid is mainly taken into the
second ejection passage 21 side from the intake passage 19 and
injected from the second washer nozzle 14A via the second outflow
chamber 33 and the second outflow port 24.
[0059] As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, when the wiper arm 11 is
gradually decelerated to reverse the pivoting direction after the
wiper arm 11 is pivoted to the vicinity of the lower end, the
inertial force applied to the washer liquid in the intake passage
19 is decreased or disappears. For this reason, the washer liquid
is substantially evenly divided into the first ejection passage 20
and the second ejection passage 21 and injected from both of the
first washer nozzle 14B and the second washer nozzle 14A little by
little, or the injection from both of the washer nozzles is
suppressed.
[0060] As described above, in the washer device 10 according to the
embodiment, the distribution apparatus 18 installed on the wiper
arm 11 has the intake passage 19 connected to the pump 16, and the
first ejection passage 20 and the second ejection passage 21
branched from the end portion of the intake passage 19 outside in
the radial direction R. Then, the first ejection passage 20 is
disposed at a position offset toward the one side (the first side)
in the circumferential direction about the pivot shaft 12 with
respect to the intake passage 19, the second ejection passage 21 is
disposed at a position offset toward the other side (the second
side) in the circumferential direction about the pivot shaft 12
with respect to the intake passage 19, and the first washer nozzle
14B and the second washer nozzle 14A are connected to the first
ejection passage 20 and the second ejection passage 21,
respectively. For this reason, when the wiper arm 11 is pivoted, a
large amount of the washer liquid can selectively flow to any one
of the first ejection passage 20 and the second ejection passage 21
due to the inertial force being applied to the washer liquid in the
distribution apparatus 18. In addition, since a seal member in
sliding contact with a mating member is not needed in a switching
section of a flow path of the washer liquid, less deterioration of
parts occur.
[0061] Accordingly, when the washer device 10 according to the
embodiment is employed, injection control of the washer liquid
corresponding to an operating direction of the wiper arm 11 can be
realized while achieving improvement of durability of parts.
[0062] In addition, in the washer device 10 according to the
embodiment, since the first washer nozzle 14B and the second washer
nozzle 14A are connected to the first ejection passage 20 and the
second ejection passage 21, respectively, the washer nozzle
configured to inject a large amount of the washer liquid can be
switched by the distribution apparatus 18 according to the
operating direction of the wiper arm 11.
[0063] However, the washer nozzle may be connected to only any one
of the first ejection passage 20 and the second ejection passage
21, and the other ejection passage may be connected to a return
pipeline configured to return the washer liquid to the reservoir
tank 17. In this case, the washer liquid is injected onto the
windshield glass 1 only when the wiper arm 11 is pivotally moved in
one direction.
[0064] In addition, in the washer device 10 according to the
embodiment, the injecting direction of the first washer nozzle 14B
is oriented toward an upward pivoting direction of the wiper arm
11, and the injecting direction of the second washer nozzle 14A is
oriented toward a downward pivoting direction of the wiper arm 11.
For this reason, a large amount of the washer liquid can be
injected from one of the first washer nozzle 14B and the second
washer nozzle 14A to a side directed in an advancing direction of
the wiper arm 11. Accordingly, when the washer device 10 according
to the embodiment is employed, an upper surface of the windshield
glass 1 can be wiped by the wiper blade 13 immediately after the
washer liquid is injected thereto, and an amount of the washer
liquid remaining after wiping can be minimized.
[0065] Further, the washer device 10 according to the embodiment is
configured such that the distribution apparatus 18 has the first
outflow chamber 32 and the second outflow chamber 33 formed therein
and partitioned by the diaphragm 31, the first ejection passage 20
and the second ejection passage 21 are connected to the first
outflow chamber 32 and the second outflow chamber 33, respectively,
the first outflow port 23 and the second outflow port 24 are
formed, and the diaphragm 31 is formed to alternatively close the
first outflow port 23 and the second outflow port 24 according to
deform displacement of the diaphragm 31. For this reason, as shown
in FIG. 5B, when a large amount of the washer liquid is taken into
the first outflow chamber 32 according to an operation of the wiper
arm 11, the diaphragm 31 can be pressed by the washer liquid to be
deformed and displaced to close the second outflow port 24 on the
side of the second outflow chamber 33. In addition, as shown in
FIG. 7B, when a large amount of the washer liquid is taken into the
second outflow chamber 33 according to the operation of the wiper
arm 11, the diaphragm 31 can be pressed by the washer liquid to be
deformed and deformed to close the first outflow port 23 on the
side of the first outflow chamber 32.
[0066] Accordingly, when the washer device 10 according to the
embodiment is employed, outflow of the washer liquid from the
washer nozzle opposite a side at which a large amount of the washer
liquid is injected can be minimized.
[0067] In addition, in the washer device 10 according to the
embodiment, the inner wall, which is located at an outer side in
the circumferential direction of the circle C, of the connecting
region E1 of the passage in the distribution apparatus 18 and the
inner wall, which is located at an outer side in the
circumferential direction of the circle C, of the connecting region
E2 are constituted by the curved surfaces 35 protruding toward the
passage axial centers of and o2 of the connecting regions E1 and
E2. For this reason, when the washer liquid is taken into the
distribution apparatus 18 in the vicinity of the curved surface 35
of the inner wall, the washer liquid can be drawn to the inner wall
outside in the circumferential direction by the Coanda effect along
the curved surface 35 of the inner wall. Accordingly, when the
configuration is employed, the washer liquid can be efficiently
taken into any one of the first ejection passage 20 and the second
ejection passage 21 when the wiper arm 11 is pivoted.
[0068] In addition, in the washer device 10 according to the
embodiment, the partition wall 36 configured to partition the first
ejection passage 20 and the second ejection passage 21 is formed in
the distribution apparatus 18, and the partition wall 36 is
disposed on the extension line of the passage axial center o3 of
the intake passage 19. For this reason, as the washer liquid
linearly flowing through the intake passage 19 abuts the partition
wall 36, a flow direction of the washer liquid can be easily
changed. Accordingly, when the configuration is employed, when the
washer liquid in the distribution apparatus 18 receives an inertial
force due to a pivotal movement of the wiper arm 11, the washer
liquid can efficiently flow through a desired ejection passage.
[0069] Further, in the case of the washer device 10 according to
the embodiment, the tip portion of the partition wall 36 in the
distribution apparatus 18 is disposed at a position overlapping
each of the curved surfaces 35 of the connecting region E1 on the
side of the first ejection passage 20 and the connecting region E2
on the side of the second ejection passage 21 in the radial
direction R of the circle C. For this reason, when the wiper arm 11
is pivoted, in a state in which the washer liquid is drawn toward
the inner wall of the connecting region E1 or E2 by the Coanda
effect along any one of the curved surfaces 35, a flow of the
washer liquid can be directed to a desired direction by the
partition wall 36. Accordingly, when the configuration is employed,
the washer liquid can more reliably flow along a desired ejection
passage.
[0070] FIGS. 9 to 11 are views showing schematic cross sections of
a distribution apparatus 118 of another embodiment. FIG. 9 shows a
flow of the washer liquid in the distribution apparatus 118 when a
pivoting direction of the wiper arm is reversed, and FIG. 10 shows
a flow of the washer liquid in the distribution apparatus 118 when
the wiper arm is pivoted in one direction. In addition, FIG. 11
shows a flow of the washer liquid in the distribution apparatus 118
when the wiper arm is pivoted in the other direction. Further, in
FIGS. 9 to 11, common parts with the above-mentioned embodiment are
designated by the same reference numerals.
[0071] The distribution apparatus 118 of the other embodiment shown
in FIGS. 9 to 11 is installed in the wiper arm on the side of the
base section. The distribution apparatus 118 has the partition wall
36 that divides the intake passage 19 into the first ejection
passage 20 and the second ejection passage 21, and the pivot shaft
12 of the wiper arm is disposed on the tip portion of the partition
wall 36. In the case of the embodiment, substantially the same
effect as the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained, and the
distribution apparatus 118 can be compactly disposed on the wiper
arm on the side of the base section.
[0072] Further, the present invention is not limited to the
embodiments, and various modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the scope of the present invention. For example,
while the washer nozzle is attached to the wiper arm in the
above-mentioned embodiments, the washer nozzle may be attached to
the wiper blade or a plurality of washer nozzles may be attached to
the wiper arm and the wiper blade. In addition, the washer device
may be configured to wipe a glass surface other than a windshield
glass of a vehicle.
[0073] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these
are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as
limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other
modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope
of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be
considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is
only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *